how many tarps do I need?

I would go with 10-12 chains and probably 14-16 binders. I think it was fairly common to use 8-10 chains.

Coil racks and coil timbers? Beveled timbers with one edge beveled. maybe 4 "sets" at least? with some rubber strips to protect the coil and some for "friction mats" to go underneath the rack.

2" straps and ratchets. 6-8?

I would just buy a standard quality tarp to start out until you get an idea of what will cut a tarp. Moving blankets, carpet remnants, or felt is good to carry to pad sharp edges of stuff to protect your tarp. Just find a local tarp shop and ask them for some scrap tarp material that you can use for patching tarps. Some vinyl cement like HH-66 and some tarp scraps make for easy tarp repairs. Cary some scissors for that.

An 8' and two 4' drops should cover anything on a 48' trailer. I would just make sure the 8' has at least 4 rows of D-rings/gromets so you can use in on those short and long loads. A fitted "hood tarp" would be good to carry with a three piece tarp setup. it's like a smoke tarp but a lil bigger. It can cover an end or front like a smoke tarp or give you an 8' 3' drop for palletized freight to cover an end that your 2 4' drops might not cover. You could probably use an 8' and a 4' instead, maybe it's a preference thing. But a smoke tarp is nice to have, a fitted smoke/hood tarp might be better more versatile than just a smoke tarp.

 

I started with used tarps 3 years back and still have them.

I cut the 8’ lumber tarp down to a 6’.

I generally get by with 3 - 4 foot drop (16 by 26), because you can still turn them sideways to achieve 35-40 feet of load with 8’ drop.

There’s so many ways to look at it, it’s different for almost everyone unless you’re consistently hauling similar products.

I never haul lumber or coils, generally 4’ drop is all I need.

And I really don’t care for tarping anyhow.

 

If I wanted to get a set of tarps to cover all the normal flatbed loads i would get a 4 piece lumber tarp system. That’s 2 end pieces 24x16 with a flap and 2 center pieces 24x16 with d rings on all four side.

Turn the center pieces sideways and you have a 4’ drop standard steel tarp.

May be a bit more up front then a standard 2 piece lumber tarp set but more useful. That being said if you need two big lumber tarps it’s faster to put on a two piece system then a 4 piece system.

 

Depends what you're hauling, what kind of trailer your using.

I carry a 36x30 with 12 foot flap, 2-30x30 24x20, 20x20, 16x20. 2 rolls of felt 20x12. About 150 or so bungees. Mostly 21".

It all depends on what you need them for. That's with a rgn. I wouldnt carry all of that for a flatbed.

 

Two 25x26 lumber tarps with 8 foot drops will pretty much cover anything that will fit within the deck of a 48 foot trailer.

Got a 53? Add a smaller smoke tarp to cover the gap in the middle.

 

I have 2 lumber tarps with flaps, a middle tarp, a steel tarp and one end flap

 

I have a pair of 8 ft drops with flap that are 24x26 each. A pair of 4 ft drops with flap that are 16x26 each, as well as one 10x12 smoke tarp.

If I could do it over again, based on my experience and loads that I haul I would do it a bit different.

A pair of 8 ft drop tarps with flap 24x26 each. One machine tarp 16x24 no flap. Lastly one more tarp that is 10x30.

The 8 ft drops will cover everything. The one 16x24 can cover smaller less than trailer loads, machines, coils, slinkies, whatever. Lastly the 10x30 tarp (unique uncommon size) will cover all the low flat steel plates, steel bars, etc.

Those 3 tarps will be the same price or cheaper than my 8 ft and 4 ft drops but has so much extra versatility and the speed you can tarp will be doubled.

I tried bungees, rubber rope, and shock cord. My favorite bar far is shock cord. I get the 3/8 off eBay and only need 30ft section per side of tarp. Finish the a few 21’ bungees for corner and front/rear.

I have 12 chains 3/8 20ft long and I have never used more than 8 so far.